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Colfax vs Freedom

156 miles apart. The biggest differences: home values (+74% in Freedom) and growth since 2010 (+23.3 pts in Freedom).

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Colfax, CAHomes around $499KCalifornia · 2,407 people

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Freedom, CAOne of the healthiest townsCalifornia · 3,172 people

Where each one shines

Two towns, two different strengths

What each town does better than most of its state (not better than each other). Tap one to see the page behind it.

ColfaxHomes around $499K

Housing$499K typical home35% below the CA typical home HealthHealthier than 76%of U.S. towns on CDC estimates

HistorySettled in 19102 places on the National Register All about Colfax →

FreedomOne of the healthiest towns

HealthHealthier than 61%of U.S. towns on CDC estimates

Outdoors#319 most conserved land in CA0.1 miles of trails across 1 parks and preserves All about Freedom →

The biggest differences

Where they part ways

The rows below where the towns are furthest apart, beyond the Census margin of error. The full table is further down.

Home values+74%

Homes cost more in Freedom

Freedom $755,300Colfax $434,300

Growth since 2010+23.3 pts

Freedom has grown faster since 2010

Freedom +24.9%Colfax +1.6%

Jobs per worker3.6×

Colfax is more of a job hub

Colfax 0.79Freedom 0.22

Property tax bill+64%

Tax bills are bigger in Freedom

Freedom $4,656Colfax $2,837

Street grid2.2×

Colfax has the more walkable street grid

Colfax 91.5Freedom 40.8

Typical home built22 yrs

Freedom’s homes are older

Colfax 1987Freedom 1965

★ What stands out · Monthly cost

A typical home costs $1,460 more a month in Freedom

A typical home in each town, bought with 20% down at 6.3% for 30 years, plus property tax at the town’s own rate and insurance. Change the numbers to fit you.

Down paymentRate%

Colfax$2,890/mo

Typical home $499K (Zillow) · tax rate 0.65% · or rent about $1,553/mo · Housing →

Freedom$4,350/mo

Typical home $755K (Census) · tax rate 0.62% · or rent about $1,621/mo · Housing →

The difference: $1,460 a month, about $17,500 a year, between Freedom and Colfax.

Estimates, not a quote: your price, rate, tax bill and insurance will differ. Tax rate = the Census median tax bill over the median home value.

Report cards

Grades and rankings, side by side

Our letter grades for safety, schools and health, then every California ranking list both towns are on. A grade is one measure; read the page behind it.

Schools

–ColfaxNot graded B−FreedomBetter than 52% of districts in the state

Health

A−ColfaxHealthier than 76% of U.S. towns BFreedomHealthier than 61% of U.S. towns

Life in each

What daily life feels like in each

The weather, the land, the history and the people, row by row. None of it is a grade: more snow is a plus to a skier.

Seasons

ColfaxFreedom

Snow a year7″0″

January low37°F 40°F

July high92°F 71°F

Growing season (days)233d 324d

Hazard risk (U.S. pctl)79th 97th

Outdoors & history

ColfaxFreedom

Conserved land—7.2%

Settled1910 —

National Register places2 —

Archive photos16 2

Community

ColfaxFreedom

Library hours a week38 hrs —

Posts this month0 0

Neighbors joined0 0

A dot marks the most on each row. Climate: NOAA 1991–2020 normals at the nearest station. Hazard risk: FEMA National Risk Index, expected yearly damage vs U.S. towns.

Where they are

156 miles apart

Straight-line miles between town centers.

ColfaxCA FreedomCA

Colfax ↔ Freedom156 miles apart

Everything, side by side

What matters to you?

Pick a few. Those rows jump to the top and the best fit on each is marked. There’s no overall score: what matters is up to you.

Only big differences vs California average

ColfaxFreedom

People

Population 2,407Lowest 3,172Highest

Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census +1.6%Lowest CA: +6.1% +24.9%Highest CA: +6.1%

Median age 35.8±3.5Highest 6% below CA 32.1±3.9Lowest 15% below CA

Colfax and Freedom are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.

Kids under 18 29.2%±6.6Lowest CA: 22% 30.1%±6.7Highest CA: 22%

Freedom and Colfax are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.

Age 65+ 12.8%±3.1Lowest CA: 15.7% 14.3%±2.2Highest CA: 15.7%

Freedom and Colfax are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.

Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ 23.6%Lowest CA: 37.1% 24.8%Highest CA: 37.1%

Enrolled in collegeshare of residents 3.7%±2.3Lowest CA: 7.6% 7.2%±3Highest CA: 7.6%

Freedom and Colfax are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.

Cost of living

Household incomemedian $72,788±$14kLowest 27% below CA $93,750±$41kHighest 5% below CA

Freedom and Colfax are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.

Home valuemedian, owner-occupied $434,300±$24kLowest 41% below CA $755,300±$83kHighest about the CA average

Rentmedian gross, monthly $1,553±$142Lowest 24% below CA $1,621±$209Highest 20% below CA

Freedom and Colfax are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.

Property taxmedian, yearly $2,837Lowest 45% below CA $4,656Highest 9% below CA

Renters paying 30%+of income on rent 58.1%±16.5Highest CA: 55.3% 35.8%±16.1Lowest CA: 55.3%

Colfax and Freedom are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.

Below poverty line 13.1%Highest CA: 12% 7.3%Lowest CA: 12%

Housing

Homeownersof occupied homes 44.6%Lowest CA: 55.9% 56.6%Highest CA: 55.9%

Typical home builtmedian year 1987Highest 11 yrs newer than CA 1965Lowest 11 yrs older than CA

Getting to work

Average commuteone way 26 minLowest 8% below CA 31 minHighest 7% above CA

Work from home 13.8%±7.6Highest CA: 17.2% 5.4%±3.4Lowest CA: 17.2%

Colfax and Freedom are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.

Work in townworking residents 5%Highest 1.2%Lowest

Typical commute distancemedian, straight-line 33.8 miHighest 13.8 miLowest

Jobs per working residentover 1.5 = a job hub 0.79Highest 0.22Lowest

Top workplaceoutside town Sacramento (8%)Watsonville (19%)

Between these townsresidents who work in the others Few work in FreedomFew work in Colfax

Outdoors

Conserved landshare of the town 0.7%Lowest 7.2%Highest

Trailsmapped miles 0.0 miLowest 0.1 miHighest

Trail densitymiles per sq mi 0.0 miLowest 0.1 miHighest

Parks & preservesnamed on the map 0Lowest 1Highest

Street connectivityintersections per sq mi, a walkability measure 91.5Highest 40.8Lowest

Schools

School district —Pajaro Valley Unified · Santa Cruz County Office of Education

High school in town —Santa Cruz County Career Advancement Charter

Students per teacherat that high school — 27.2

California average“±” Census margin of errorACS 2020–2024

Deciding?

Ask the people who live there

The numbers stop at the town line. Neighbors can tell you about the commute at 7am, the schools, the winters and the feel of the place.

Colfax neighborsTown Square →

Your question goes to Colfax’s Town Square.

Freedom neighborsTown Square →

Your question goes to Freedom’s Town Square.

Add a town

Set another town beside Colfax and Freedom

One tap adds it. Up to 4 towns at once.

Towns like Colfax

Holtville5,617 people · $310K homes

Weed2,737 people · $260K homes

Sonora4,919 people · $422K homes

Willits4,920 people · $371K homes

Not sure which town to add? Find your place ranks California towns on what matters to you.Find your place →

Sources: U.S. Census Bureau American Community Survey 5-year estimates, 2010 & 2020 censuses, LEHD commute flows; Zillow Home Value Index; NCES Common Core of Data; FBI crime reporting; CDC PLACES; FEMA National Risk Index; NOAA U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020; USGS PAD-US and OpenStreetMap. “±” is the Census margin of error; differences inside it are never called. Property tax is top-coded by the Census at $10,000+. There is no overall score: which town is better depends on what matters to you.